Saturday, July 24, 2010

Blocked fallopian tubes and infertility

Blocked fallopian tubes are one of the commonest causes of infertility. The fallopian tubes project out from each side of the body of the uterus and form the passages through which the egg is conducted from the ovary into the uterus. The fallopian tubes are about 10 cms long and the outer end of each tube is funnel shaped, ending in long fringes called fimbriae. The fimbriae catch the mature egg and channel it down into the fallopian tube when released by the ovary .

The tube itself is a muscular highly movable structure capable of highly coordinated movement. The egg and sperm meet in the outer half of the fallopian tube, called the ampulla. Fertilization occurs here, after which the embryo continues down the tube toward the uterus. The uterine end of the tube, called the isthmus, acts like a sphincter, and prevents the embryo from being released into the uterus until just the right time for implantation, which is about 4 to 7 days after ovulation.The fallopian tube enters the uterus at its cornual end.

The tube is much more complex than a simple pipe, and the lining of the tube is folded and lined with microscopic hair like projections called cilia which push the egg and embryo along the tube. The tubal lining also produces a fluid that nourishes the egg and embryo during their journey in the tube.


Fig 1. Normal tube and ovary, as seen during laparoscopy

Remember that a doctor cannot judge if your fallopian tubes are open or closed either by an internal examination; or a vaginal ultrasound scan. Unfortunately, this is a very common mistake many patients make, and they assume that if the scan is normal, this means their tubes are open. This is not true. Sadly, many doctors also make the assumption that the fallopian tubes are open, without bothering to test them. Thus, some doctors will assume that a young woman with polycystic ovarian disease must have open tubes, and they start treating her with clomid, without bothering to test the tubal status. This can sometimes be a very expensive mistake ! Just because you have had no symptoms of a pelvic infection does not mean that your tubes cannot get blocked; and if the tubes are blocked, this means the eggs and sperm cannot meet, no matter what medicines you take. This is why it is essential that you ask the doctor to formally test your tubal status before starting any treatment.

The only reliable ways of testing if your tubes are open or closed is by doing either a HSG or a laparoscopy. Personally, I prefer a HSG, because it is much less expensive and provides hard copy documentation.

If a tubal block is found, then what are the next steps ?

The first question is - Are both the tubes blocked ? If only one tube is blocked, then there is no need to take any action at all ! One normal tube is enough for normal fertility. If one tube is open and your doctor advises you to have surgery to open the other tube, please do not agree !

The next question is - Where is the block ? The block could be at the terminal ( fimbrial) end of the fallopian tube. This often causes the tube to get swollen with fluid, and form a hydrosalpinx. In the past, doctors would perform tubal surgery to open this kind of blocked tubes. However, the results were very poor. The tube would usually close down again; or would never function properly, because its inner lining was damaged - damage which cannot be repaired by surgery. Some of these patients would then go on to have tubal ( ectopic) pregnancies.

If the tube is blocked at the cornual end, it's sometimes possible to repair these tubes. Sometimes the block is not a real block, but just an apparent block because of tubal spasm . Sometimes the block is because of a mucus plug or debris, and this can sometimes be cleared with the help of FTR ( fluoroscopic tubal recanalisation). This is a bit like doing an " angioplasty " for the fallopian tube ! ?

Remember that it's impossible for a doctor to judge tubal function. While we know that a blocked tube will not work, it does not follow that an open tube ( which may look perfectly normal anatomically on the HSG or the laparoscopy) is in fact capable of functioning normally ! Sometimes the doctor says the spill of dye is "sluggish"; or that "the tubes filled slowly"; or that they have a beaded appearance. These are just descriptive terms, and often cause more confusion rather than clarity !

Finding out your tubes are blocked can be quite a blow. Because tubal disease is often silent, there is no way of suspecting tubal blockade prior to doing the tests. Blocked tubes will not affect your menstrual cycle, your health or your sexual life, but they will prevent you from having a baby !

While the results of tubal surgery to repair blocked tubes is poor, the good news is that it is possible to offer very effective treatment for this problem today, thanks to IVF, which allows us to bypass the problem completely ! In IVF, the test tube in the IVF lab performs the role the fallopian tube would normally perform in the bedroom !

If you have a hydrosalpinx , some doctors will want to surgically remove this prior to performing IVF. I do not think this is a good idea at all !
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7 comments:

  1. Some patients are difficult, unpleasant, annoying or disturbing. They become verbally abusive to staff. They may be angry, and justly so, because of previous experiences, either with the same physician or another. Some are angry, in general, making communications difficult if not impossible. Some are simply unpleasant or aggressive, but not the rage that causes this behavior.

    Some patients have demands. While some claims are justified and fair, others not. They may be frivolous, suggested and pursued by lawyers. You can not blame a doctor for refusing to treat a patient who is regularly in dispute.

    Some patients place in their physicians realistic responsibility. A doctor says an obese patient to lose weight and control their diabetes. She does not. Then he returns again and again for more medication or knee surgery or other treatment and is upset when your doctor can not fix things for her. She blames the doctor for lack of improvement, but does nothing to help themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great facts, several thanks towards the author. It really is incomprehensible to me now, but in basic, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming. Thanks again and very good luck!

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  3. hello dr. i did HSG. in that my right tube blocked at its cornual end and left tube visualized uptill fimbrial end. what should i do ??

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous3:41 PM

    I had done my hsg test done on 11/6/14 my reports say
    "Contrast used is 60% trazograf
    Uterine cavity shows a normal filling and is normal.
    No focal filling defect seen in uterine cavity.
    Both the fallopian are not visualised probably cornual blocks.
    My Dr has advised me to get laparoscopy for fallopian tube block. I'm really confused and scared don't no how to go about. Pls help me. Waiting for your reply as soon as possible. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would not advise you to have a laparoscopy. Read more at http://www.drmalpani.com/laparoscopy-and-infertility.htm

      You can try a fallopian tubal recanalisation.
      Read more at http://www.drmalpani.com/ftr_fallopian_tubal_recanalisation.htm

      If this fails, then consider IVF

      Delete
  5. Kannan4:14 PM

    My dr advised after laproscopy that my tubes have bilateral tubal blockage at isthmic level is there is way to treat it by any surgery or IVF is the only option I am very confused

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree you have tubal factor infertility. You can read more about this at www.drmalpani.com/knowledge-center/articles/blockedtubes

      I am sorry there is no way of repairing damaged fallopian tubes, as they cannot function normally
      even after surgery.

      I agree that IVF would be your best treatment option
      as it would maximise your chances of conceiving quickly.

      Treatment takes about 20 days. Should I send you the treatment plan ?

      I need more information to be able to provide you with intelligent advice.

      Could you please send me your medical details by filling in the form at www.drmalpani.com/free-second-opinion so that I can guide you better?

      You can read about more about how we take care of our patients at http://www.drmalpani.com/ivf-treatment-at-malpani-ivf-clinic.htm

      You can talk to some of our patients by email at http://www.drmalpani.com/success-stories.htm

      Taking treatment at a world-class clinic will maximise your chances of success and give you peace of mind you did your best !


      We look forward to helping you to have a baby !

      Dr Aniruddha Malpani, MD
      Malpani Infertility Clinic, Jamuna Sagar, SBS Road, Colaba
      Mumbai 400 005. India

      Clinic Mobile: 9867441589

      Tel: 91-22-22151065, 22151066, 2218 3270, 65527073

      Helping you to build your family !

      You can add a google review for us at https://plus.google.com/102706636605134081909/about

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      Watch our infertility cartoon film at http://www.ivfindia.com

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      online at www.DrMalpani.com !

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      relationship at http://blog.drmalpani.com

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